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1. For our full day in the Ragusa area -- should we visit Ragusa or Modica? And we'd like to spend some time at a nice beach -- not too crowded, but with facilities/food.

2. I do need a recommendation for where to stop for lunch one day -- we arrive in Milazzo (from Panarea) at noon and will drive south to Piazza Armerina to see the Villa Romana de Casale on our way to COS. I had hoped to eat lunch at Al Fugher near there, but I realize it's 2.5 hours from Milazzo! So will be starved by 2:30... Not sure if we should get something in Milazzo? Or stop somewhere else on the way...
Also -- there seem to be two routes -- going west thru Cefalu and east thru Messina. The western route takes about 20 min longer, but would be worth if there's an interesting stop for lunch -- maybe Cefalu?

I can only sympathize with you about the difficulty of making choices!

When it comes to the baroque towns, I am staying in Scicli for 2 nights. Once I'm there, I will decide if I need a day trip to either Ragusa or Modica. I may just end up staying put, because I understand Scicli is pretty special itself!

Happy planning. I know you have checked out the Sicily forum on the other website too.

Looking at the Locanda COS on Tripadvisor, it appears to be very close to Ragusa Ibla so perhaps you could have your cake and eat it, too. We stayed in Modica and day tripped to Ragusa Ibla which is very pretty but felt more like a stage set in comparison to lively Modica. It appeared that most people live in the newer part of Ragusa while the primary tourist sites are in Ibla. Two or three hours sufficed for our visit to RI, and, although we happily spent four nights in Modica, I think you could get a feel for it in an afternoon. You'll be near the water in Panarea, Siracusa, and Taormina, but, if you really want beach time during your stay at the winery, I think it would be easier to combine that with Ragusa Ibla.

bon voyage --
that is a very interesting comparison of ragusa ibla and modica. thanks so much for your input! according to google maps, it appears to be a 45 min drive to Ragusa or Modica. we were thinking to visit one or the other for the morning and then have a nice lunch.
--you're right about not really needing the beach considering the rest of the itinerary, and i thought the same thing, so perhaps you're right. i was just thinking that time of year is so hot and it might be so nice to dip in the sea in the late afternoon... but there is a pool at the winery.

It would be a 45 minute exciting drive. As b_v said, the squiggly bit is actually 2 narrow lanes of switch-backs with a stone wall on one side & a rock wall on the other . . with a 2 foot shoulder . . . at best. And I also agree with b_v re Modica/Ragusa. Modica was real & Ragusa was a beautified facade.

It's a travel day, so I would personally skip a prolonged lunch stop anywhere. Plan ahead & get some cold cuts, cheese & Italian bread & have a picnic at some scenic site along the way. Maybe your hotel can fix a picnic for you.

Google maps et al is great but the reality of Sicily is that every drive will take longer than you think. The multi-lane highways are fast but as soon as you dip into the 2 lane roads or transverse a hill town or two, your timing will go out the window.

So . . . looking at your Cefalu idea, you would be sitting down around 2 . . . that puts PA around 4;30 at best . . . your accommodations between 7 & 8 . . . a long day that might end up with a night drive over unfamiliar roads with Sicilian drivers . . .

I can't help because I only drove as far as Taormina in the east. We took the southerly route & ended up in Palermo in the west. The Roman villa with the mosaics is in the country west of PA. Since you hit the road with the day 1/2 over, I would probably opt for the most direct route. If time allowed after PA, you could visit Caltagirone & it's mosaic stairs (lined with vendors selling mosaics of course), which is not too much of a detour.